Karnataka Minister K Abhayachandra Jain gets threat call

MANGALURU: Karnataka Minister K Abhayachandra Jain has received a threat call in connection with the recent murder of a Bajrang Dal activist who was involved in busting illegal slaughter houses, police said today.

Jain, the Sports and Fisheries minister, in his complaint to police said a person identifying himself as gangster Ravi Poojary called him yesterday and alleged that he (the minister) was involved in the murder of Bajrang Dal worker Prashant Poojary and that he would kill him, police said.

When Jain denied the charge, the caller alleged that the Minister and district-in-charge Minister Ramanath Rai were involved in the October 9 murder of Poojary. Jain told the police that the caller spoke in Hindi and English.

Besides lodging a complaint, Jain said he also informed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister K J George.

Police Commissioner S Murugan visited Jain's house here and additional security had been posted there in view of the threat, police said.

29-year-old Poojary, involved in busting illegal slaughter houses, was murdered by a six-member bike-borne gang at Moodibidri here, about two weeks after Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched by a mob at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh over beef eating rumours that led to a nation-wide outrage.

BJP has accused the Congress government of negligence in unearthing the 'conspiracy' behind Poojary's murder and demanded a CBI probe.

Police have so far arrested nine persons in connection with the murder.